Aspartame

Aspartame (CAS 22839-47-0), also identified by the designation E951, is a high-intensity artificial sweetener approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose.

Where is Aspartame used?

• Beverages: primary sweetener in diet sodas and flavored waters
• Powdered drink mixes: sugar replacement
• Confectionery and dairy: sugar-free chewing gums and tabletop sweetener blends
• Yogurts and desserts: low-calorie labeling
• Flavor enhancement: small additions sharpen perceived sweetness without contributing bulk
• Oral hygiene products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes act as a taste-masking agent.
• May also be used as an ingredient in cosmetic products for masking purposes.
• Used to improve the organoleptic profile of nutritional formulations and food supplements.

Good to know: Encapsulated forms are available for heat-processed applications where stability during baking is required.

Formulation notes

• Unlike other high-intensity sweeteners, it has no peculiar aftertaste or bitterness.
• Prone to hydrolysis in aqueous environments, especially at high pH or temperature, so dry mixing or freshly reconstituted preparations are preferred.
• Limited water solubility; requires solvents or pH adjustment for solution formulations.

Typical specification

• Available in base, salt, micronized, or specific purity grades.

Regulatory status

• Maximum permitted levels are set specifically per food category and can reach up to 6,000 mg/kg food for microsweets for breath freshening.
• The maximum permitted level in non-alcoholic flavoured drinks is 600 mg/L.
• Authorized for use in food under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 based on EFSA evaluation.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Most stable at pH 4.3 at room temperature, where its half-life is about 300 days.
• At pH 7, the half-life drops to only a few days.

Frequently asked questions about Aspartame

What labeling requirements apply to products containing aspartame?

Products must be labeled for phenylketonuria patients because of phenylalanine exposure.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.